Bruschetta Chicken

Jeremy and I tried this recipe for dinner a few nights ago, and it was delicious! We'll definitely be making this again. It was even good the next day as leftovers - and I'm not a leftovers person. And, if you have picky eaters... you can just leave the tomato mixture off, and just have parmesan-crusted chicken. This is a great recipe, and pretty easy to put together. Enjoy!

Bruschetta Chicken
Adapted from Lindsey Meredith

Ingredients:

© 2012 Jamie V.

Chicken Breading:
1/4 cup flour
1 egg, beaten
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied
3 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp breadcrumbs (or garlic croutons)
garlic powder
1/8 to 1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 to 1 Tbsp butter, melted

Tomato Mixture:
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (drained)
2 to 2-1/2 Tbsp basil
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 °F.
2. Grease baking dish (8x8 or 9x11).
3. Mix flour, garlic powder, and pepper in a shallow bowl.
4. Place beaten egg in separate shallow bowl.
5. Dip each butterflied piece of chicken into flour mixture, then into beaten egg. Place chicken in baking dish.
6. Combine parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and melted butter, then sprinkle / spread onto chicken.
7. Loosely cover baking dish with foil.
8. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until top is browned and chicken is cooked through (use meat thermometer).
9. Drain tomatoes (may want to chop them up a bit more). Combine with basil, olive oil, minced garlic, and salt and pepper (to taste).
10. Spoon tomato mixture over chicken, and return to oven for 5-10 minutes (or until tomato mixture is heated through).
11. Allow rest for a few minutes, after you take it out of the oven.
12. Serve and enjoy!

Missing PapPap

My PapPap passed away 10 years ago, today. I can't believe it's been that long. The memories that I have of / with him are such a cherished piece of my heart.

I wish that PapPap and Jeremy could have met each other. I think they would've really gotten along well. But, Jeremy and I started dating a month or so after PapPap passed away. But, I know that he's looking down from heaven and smiling that Jeremy and I have each other.

© 2012 Jamie V.

It just occurred to me that I have yet to finish the mini-scrapbook that I started making years ago. It just became too much for me to handle, so it was pushed to the side. I'm going to start working on it again, so that I can get it finished in the next couple of months. I just read a short letter I wrote to him four days after he passed away, and it brought me to tears. I'm going to write him another short letter today.

He holds such a special part of my heart, and I'm so grateful that we had the time we did together.

I love you, PapPap!!!

Cheesy Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

Jeremy and I tried these a few weeks ago, and it's absolutely DELICIOUS!!! It tasted great the night we made it, and as leftovers (and I'm not much of a leftover person). We'll definitely be making this again!

Cheesy Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole
Adapted from picky-palate.com

© 2012 Jamie V.

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup diced onions (approximately 1/2 - 1 medium onion)
1/2 cup celery, finely diced (approximately 3 stalks celery)
1 cup peeled and diced carrots (approximately 3 carrots)
2 Tbsp fresh minced garlic
2 cups shredded, cooked chicken breast
2 cups steamed white rice
16 ounce prepared wild rice (recipe recommends Trader Joe's, but we just prepared Uncle Ben's wild rice)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic salt

Cheese Sauce:

4 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Top with 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat.
3. Saute onion, celery, and carrots until softened, about 10 minutes.
4. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
5. Stir in chicken, both rices, salt, pepper, garlic salt. Reduce heat to low.
6. To prepare cheese sauce, melt butter into a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
7. Whisk in flour, salt, and pepper. Then, slowly pour in chicken broth, whisking continuously.
8. Whisk until thick and nearly boiling. Stir in cheese until melted.
9. Pour cheese sauce into rice mixture. Transfer to a 9"x13" baking dish.
10. Top with additional cheddar cheese.
11. Bake at 350ºF for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is melted through.
12. Serve.

Baked Cinnamon Breakfast Bites

Jeremy and I tried these a few weeks ago. I think we added too much of the crisp rice cereal and cooked them a bit too long (I've adjusted the cooking time below). They were okay, but we'll have to try them again to see if it's a keeper recipe.

Baked Cinnamon Breakfast Bites
Adapted from OhMySugarHigh.com

Baked Cinnamon Breakfast Bites

Ingredients:

1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup crisp rice cereal, coarsely crushed
2 Tbsp plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter-flavored shortening
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425ºF.
2. Mix flour, crushed cereal, 2 Tbsp sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl.
3. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Add milk and stir just until moistened.
5. Roll dough into approximately 2-1/2 dozen 1" balls.
6. Mix cinnamon and remaining sugar in a small bowl.
7. Drop balls (one at a time) into melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.
8. Place balls onto greased cookie sheet(s).
9. Bake at 425ºF for 12-15 minutes (careful not to overcook), or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
10. Cool for a few minutes in pan before removing.
11. Serve.

Audience of One by Big Daddy Weave

I've been listening to inspiring music today, and while many songs have touched me, this song jumped out to me. I think it's a beautiful (and timely) reminder that it is to our Lord that my life is devoted... He is my audience of one. I long to live a life that brings glory to His name, and sometimes I need to be reminded of what is most important in my life.

http://youtu.be/EFxVfAZj5Q0

Audience of One by Big Daddy Weave

I come on my knees
To lay down before you
Bringing all that I am
Longing only to know you
Seeking your face
And not only your hand
I find you embracing me
Just as I am

And I lift these songs
To you and you alone
As I sing to you
In my praises make your home

[Chorus]
To my audience of one
You are Father, and you are Son
As your spirit flows free,
Let it find within me
A heart that beats to praise you.
And now just to know you more
Has become my great reward
To see your kingdom come
And your will be done
I only desire to be yours,
Lord

So what could I bring
To honor your majesty
What song could I sing
That would move the heart of royalty
And all that I have
Is the life that you’ve given me
So Lord let me live for you
My song with humility

And Lord as the love song
Of my life is played
I have one desire
To bring glory to your name

[Chorus]

And we lift these songs
To you and you alone
As we sing to you
In our praises make your home

[Chorus]

Beautiful to Me by Kerrie Roberts (Easter Sunday)

Today is Easter Sunday. A day of celebration. Jesus' death on the cross revealed the depth and the magnitude of His love for us. His resurrection of Easter morning reveals His mighty power. There is nothing that can separate us from our Father's love.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

Christ loved us so much that He sent His son to die, so that we could have eternal hope! Hallelujah, Christ is risen! Thanks be to God!

"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay" (Matthew 38:5-6)

Blessings on this glorious Easter Sunday!

http://youtu.be/IyI_duB-k-s

Beautiful to Me by Kerrie Roberts

So much I don't understand
That I’d change if I wrote the story
How pain can heal and death bring life
How defeat can bring such glory
You didn't hold back one breath
You even gave Your last one
So I’d live

[Chorus]

It's beautiful to me
Your holy mystery
I'm standing here in awe
Of how you make everything
So beautiful to me
Someday I will see
How You hold this wounded heart
And make it perfect and complete
And it's beautiful to me
Beautiful

I don't deserve Your suffering
I should be the one who's bleeding
But Your broken body gives
This broken spirit what it's needing
You reach through time with Your sacrifice
Your wounded hands holding this fragile life

[Chorus]

This ache, this longing
This heart that I've been searching
In this moment while I'm breaking
Show me
Your plan, Your promise
A pain that has a purpose
I let you in to use it

And just like Your hands built heaven’s hall
You’re making me so beautiful

[Chorus]

Beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful to me
Beautiful to me

The Wonderful Cross by Chris Tomlin (Good Friday)

Today is Good Friday, the day that Christians commemorate the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calvary. It is a day often filled with fasting, prayer, repentance, and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ on the cross. The biblical account of His crucifixion, His burial, and His resurrection are found in the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) - Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30.

The hours from noon to 3pm are often observed on Good Friday with a period of silence because it was during these last three hours of Jesus' suffering that darkness fell over the land. There was an earthquake, tombs broke open, and the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom - "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:45-54).

• Forgiveness:  "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34)
• Salvation:  "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43)
• Relationship:  "Woman, behold thy son! Behold thy mother!" (John 19:26-27)
• Abandonment:  "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34)
• Distress:  "I thirst" (John 19:28)
• Triumph:  "It is finished" (John 19:30)
• Reunion:  "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46)

I hope everyone has a blessed Good Friday.

http://youtu.be/9hGhrYnChkI

The Wonderful Cross by Chris Tomlin

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

[Chorus]
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

[Chorus] (repeat)

It's the glory and the pain
Wonderful cross

[Chorus] (repeat)